Unveiled: The Cursed Trilogy, Book Three, Betty Legend [thriller book recommendations TXT] 📗

Kristo’s face tightens, his brows drawing together. “He needs to be kept secure and given blood in intervals until he can control the bloodlust.”

“You tried your way. Now, we’ll try it my way.”

CHAPTER TWO

PHOENIX

Rising from a massive bed, the stench of wolf accosts me. Blinking, I focus on my senses and my location. Within seconds, I determine I’m in Killian’s home. Has to be, with his odor and Selene’s fragrance all over the place. Stepping from the bed, I listen for others, for her, and hear distant voices outside. Leaving the loft, with only a large, wide bed and two nightstands, I go in search of them.

The memories of what I did to Selene burn through my mind, leaving guilt in its wake, yet I still yearn to be inside of her, tasting her decadent blood. Aggravated, I bite my bottom lip, my fang piercing the skin. The taste of my own blood fills my mouth, and that hunger nags at the back of my throat, my skin tight and dry with thirst.

Outside, in the dark of night, I find Killian sitting at a firepit with the red-orange glow rising a few feet into the sky.

“What am I doing here?”

“Sit,” Killian commands, his tone brooking no argument.

Obliging him, I take the chair next to him.

“What is this?” My annoyed tone raises his brow.

“This is what Selene wants. We’re doing it for her.”

“We?”

Emeric lowers from the sky, gracefully landing on his feet across from us. Cyrus and Griffin emerge from the side of a building, carrying firewood and chairs.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” Emeric sneers. Grabbing a chair from Griffin’s arms, he unfolds it, then swings it around and straddles it. Cyrus tosses two pieces of wood on the fire as Griffin unfolds the other chairs.

“What the fuck is this? Group therapy?”

Killian’s mouth tilts as he opens a beer. “Selene bound you to my property. You can’t leave, but feel free to hunt anything in the woods. As for Selene, she’ll visit and let you feed from her, a little at a time, while we supervise.”

Leaning forward, with my elbows on my knees, my angry gaze sweeps over them.

“So, I’m stuck here with you fuckers, for how long?”

Emeric shrugs. “For as long as it takes for you to stop trying to drain Selene dry.”

Nostrils flaring, I rise from the chair and pace, my hunger tormenting.

“I need to feed.”

Killian points toward the woods. “You have seven hundred acres right there.”

Walking over to the cooler, Griffin grabs himself a beer. “This would be a good time for you to resist your hunger. If you can’t control it when Selene isn’t here, how will you control it when she is?”

Digging my nails into my fists, I sit back down.

“I don’t want to keep hurting her.”

Cyrus bends a leg, resting his ankle on his knee, and takes the beer Griffin hands him. “That’s a start.”

“Where is she?”

“Visiting her mother and cousin,” Griffin tells me. “Her cousin is a witch too. She doesn’t possess anything close to Selene’s abilities, but she can wield water and air magic.”

“Does she hate me?” The worry tightens in my gut.

Cyrus lowers his beer after drinking. “No. She wants to help you.”

Emeric gets a beer and kicks the cooler lid closed. “She thinks your sorry ass is worth saving.” With a shrug, he sits down. “I think that’s yet to be determined.”

“Fuck off.”

“I would, but Selene asked us to bond with you.”

Blowing out a breath, I run a hand through my hair. “Bond with you, assholes?”

Cyrus snickers. “You’re the asshole, Phoenix. Not us.” He and Emeric share a glance. “Well, let me correct my statement, the biggest asshole.”

Emeric chuckles approvingly and takes another swig.

With my stomach knotting from hunger, I grimace. Killian studies me, watching my body language.

“You’re already showing control.”

“Damn it,” I growl. “I don’t want to hurt her anymore.” Standing, I clench my fists together, release, and clench again.

Cyrus reaches into his pocket, pulling out a vial.

“She cares so much about you, she went as far as to visit Ancor, the Fae enchanter, and had an elixir made for you.”

Staring at the foreign green liquid, my chin lifts. “What’s it for?”

He tosses it to me.

“The pain.”

Removing the lid, I down the awful tasting liquid. Within seconds, my hunger pain subsides, allowing me some mental clarity.

“It’s working.” Taking my seat, I drop my head into my hand. “She’s a saint.”

Grunts of agreement echo around me.

“You got that right,” Killian agrees.

Resigning to my new commitment, I meet their gazes.

“If I’m to stay here, I’ll need my cell phone, my laptop, and for fuck’s sake, some clean clothes.” Glancing down, I finger the thin t-shirt. “What the hell am I wearing?”

“My clothes,” Griffin replies. “We’re the closest in size.”

“Explains why I smell like sweat, sand, and salt. Please get my cologne as well.”

Cyrus chuckles, a brow rising. “I assume everything you need is already here. Kristo delivered a suitcase yesterday.”

“How long was I out?”

“Two days,” Cyrus replies. “Selene kept you asleep, so she could cast the barrier spell and visit Ancor.”

“How much did her magic grow while I was at Kristo’s?”

Griffin clicks his tongue in his cheek. “A hell of a lot. She’s been practicing every elemental magic daily, except blood magic.”

“Her magic is strong.” Killian tosses his empty beer aside and grabs another. “She’s fearful of it sometimes, but when she gives in to it, it’s a sight to see.”

“Has she tried blood magic at all?”

“No.” Cyrus shakes his head. “She hasn’t. She wants you to teach her once you’ve bonded.”

Disappointment is a cluster of prickling needles in my chest, hearing we haven’t bonded fully.

“Can she feel it inside her?”

Emeric smirks. “Yeah, every time we fuck.”

Grimacing, jealousy nags at me. “I’m surprised she can feel your dick at all.”

“Oh, she can feel it all right.” With a snicker, he tilts his beer and wipes his lips. “All nine inches of it.”

“Of course, you would exaggerate an inch… or six,” I crack back.

Killian laughs as